The Who What Wear Podcast: The Summer 2026 Shopping Guide

0:01Kat Collings:Hey, Who What Wear listeners. I feel like people have been talking about selling on eBay a lot lately, and the more I hear about it, the more it makes sense. Because we all have those things. The jacket from a very specific phase, the lamp that only worked in your last apartment, the pan you bought for the version of you that was definitely going to cook more. And from what I hear, selling on eBay is actually really simple. It's basically just a few photos and suddenly the stuff that's just been sitting there has a chance to find millions of buyers who are genuinely excited to have it. That's what I like about it.

0:37Kat Collings:On eBay, the things that no longer fit your life can still be exactly right for someone else. And you get a little more space, a little extra money, and maybe a better sense of what fits your life now. Find what you love, sell what you don't. On eBay, the place for things people love.

1:10Kat Collings:Welcome to the Who, What, Where podcast. I'm Editor-in-Chief Kat Collings, and today on the podcast, I'm sitting down in studio with Executive Editorial and Style Director, Lauren Eggertson and shopping editor Chichi04 to give you a summer shopping and style guide. We've been closely tracking the trend shifts from last summer and we're here to share all of our recommendations on how to update your wardrobe for the season ahead. It's all coming up on Who, What, Where.

1:41Kat Collings:Hi Lauren and Chichi, welcome to the pod. Hi Kat, thanks for having us. Hey, so today we're talking everything summer style. To me, this is Who What Wears. Secret sauce is what's sort of coming up on the trend forecast, what's maybe falling off. And I'm excited to hear all of your summer insights. But first, let's start with the go-tos that you return to every summer. Right now, I've been actually for a while, I've been into jorts, long shorts in general. So if it's like jorts or like a long line, like almost Bermuda, but like loose, not tight. Like a tight jort is sort of like. It's like weird.

2:21Kat Collings:No, that's off. That's like 2007 in the worst way. Love a skirt. I'm such a skirt girl. Like I feel like for summer, definitely more like knee length. Or I could have some maxi moments. Flowey pants. Oh my gosh. Gotta let everything breathe, you know, so. Gotta circulate. Yeah. I like that. I agree with all of that. I'm definitely a flowy pant girl. I love like a linen or poplin. Before we actually started this, I was talking to Kat about how there's this J.Crew pair, the Luna pant, and they're like flying off the shelves and I cannot get a pair. Like I've tried to add them to my cart so many times and they keep getting back ordered, but they're so cute.

3:00They're just like a really like, like in between like a straight and a wide leg poplin drawstring. They come in like a really pretty like tomato red. And I'm just like, I know when I get those, that's going to be my uniform like that and a t-shirt and a flip-flop. It's just cute. I can wear it to the office with like maybe a little jacket or like a sweater. I don't know why these pants are just consuming me, but I need them. But yeah, a flowy pant and like a good material, like you're saying, you're just like, let it breathe, not stress. I love a flowy skirt. I love a button down. Just like things that I can pair back together to like all of these items, I think.

3:32Like a mix and match situation.

3:33Kat Collings:And I'm glad you sort of expounded on what a flowy pant means because I don't want anyone listening to be like, okay, flowy, we're going full flow and like palazzo. Because that's not where we're at in the summer of 2026. To me, flowy means like not tight on your leg, but still has like a shape to it. Like a soft pant that has a little bit of a relaxed vibe to it, but definitely not palazzo. No. Okay, we're clear and aligned on this. Period. I feel like you're cooler than me with like knowing what Gen Z loves. Like we always have this conversation, but I feel like the track short with like the stripe is really cool for like the younger demographic.

4:16Not that if you're older, you can't wear it, but I've just noticed it on some of these like cool Gen Z people. Same with like a flowy pant situation that's more like sport inspired, you know, like I think that's kind of fun.

4:27Kat Collings:I think also as a millennial, I'm so glad you're here, Gigi, to help like check us. like it's with our button downs sometimes we get a little office you know we used to wear office wear to the club we're like we will shove in the office look wherever if we need to be stopped yeah so i think that um like a sporty or short can really help counteract that like nine to five five yeah yeah that was a good little overview moment and now i think we need to go head to toe we're really getting into it um each category and what's relevant right now to wear it's like a shower, you know, you have to like start at the top and then you rinse down.

5:05Kat Collings:The proper way to do it, if anyone was wondering. Let's start with the headwear. I'm curious what was popular last summer and how are you seeing it evolve this summer? Luckily, so much summer like headwear is pretty timeless and kind of comes back like, you know, like you're never going to look lame if you're wearing a baseball hat or like a crochet bucket hat or things like that. But I do feel like last summer, the polo baseball hats with like the logo on it was just kind of everywhere. Like every single person I knew had one. And they're still cool. Like if you like I have one, I'll probably still like pull it out sometimes.

5:38But I think that was still when we were like tapering off of quiet luxury a little more. So it was like that was your personality piece, like this base, this polo baseball hat. Right. And like the fun colors because it kind of comes in a rainbow.

5:50Kat Collings:Yeah, exactly. So you could be wearing like all white and have a red baseball hat. Again, still cute. you would still look so stylish. But it's like now this summer, I feel like people are moving out of that and starting to like experience and mess with personal style a bit more and get more maximalist. So we're seeing more fun trends kind of evolve. I feel like more this year, like kind of the like spin on that a little bit is I feel like I've seen people combine their headscarves with the baseball cap, you know, dress it up a little bit, add a little personality. And so I've seen that in a really cool way.

6:22Skullcap or like a kosh is really trending right now. I've been seeing a lot of the like crocheted versions and some that have like cool little like shell beads and sequins and if you want to get crazy. But yeah, I feel like a lot of that's been really cool. And some people go the more like vintagey 1920s route. But yeah, I think that's been like a cool twist on new iterations of like a classic like crocheted like bucket hat vibe for this year

6:51Kat Collings:I will say you know we had such a strong reaction to palazzo pants I'm curious in the hat category is a fedora ever welcome I feel like if like Addison Rae wore one yeah like somebody's got a charlie xtx or something maybe yeah you know but you won't see me you won't see me Adora. Yeah. To me also, when something feels so severely uncool, it's like, you know, it's just somebody is going to bring it back. Who can be that sort of tipping point for it. In an ironic way, almost. Yes. Yeah. A hundred percent. Okay. Hair accessories. These are always a big indicator of what style era we're in. I think oversized scrunchies, claw clips, hairpins, the gamut, barrettes.

7:34Kat Collings:What does summer 2026 look like for the hair accessory? I was excited to talk about French combs because I feel like they're so chic. Hair pins are obviously so chic too. I think like the French twist in general is just like this evolution maybe from the claw clip where the claw clip used to be. That was like your accessory. And now it's starting to feel a little bit more utilitarian. Not that they're out. Like I still wear them all the time. Like hair half up with my little claw clips. But for the Rose pre-fall 2026 collection, the hairstylist Guido Palau did like this new architectural French twist take with these French combs.

8:12And so it was kind of like there was multiple combs in the hair. And that's very editorial. But I think that's how trends kind of start, right? It's like you see something that's so striking and punches you in the face almost. And then you're like, how can I make this work for me? So I think a French comb is kind of like a fun, fun thing to try this summer.

8:27Kat Collings:Plus it's also like, I need to watch a YouTube tutorial. There's a little bit of a barrier. Like this comb. It's a hobby now. Yeah. How does it work? Yeah. I think Jenny Walton is someone who does that at like vintage inspired hairstyles a lot that I'm always like, maybe we need to get her on the phone. We do. She knows what she's doing. And she's really good at sourcing vintage hair pins. Yeah. And she's like so easy. Like she makes it look so effortless, but it definitely takes a technique for sure. I've been seeing some cool hairpins that have like beading or like just like cute little adornments.

8:59And I feel like that's like kind of the maybe 2026 version of it all.

9:05Kat Collings:I saw one with that. We'll put the brand maybe in the comments. But a seashell kind of on top and then it had some like pearl dangles hanging down. So what about sunglasses? I know where we're at here and I think we're all going to say the same thing. After an era of tiny frames, I think we are ready for something new. We overdid it a little bit. So what's in, what has replaced the tiny frame? Big sunglasses. The bug eye trend is huge. I know we all feel it. I know we all see it. It's what's going on. Period. I can't say it. I can't say it. We're just like, we're going to roll that back and just edit over that.

9:42Kat Collings:There's a specific pair of sunglasses, which Chichi, maybe we'll have you try them on later and see if they're like a universal fit that Lauren and I have been loving and both purchase. They are the Oliver Peoples Kate collab. What style is it? They are. It's very important because they're all different numbers. There's a lot of good ones. Like Anne Hathaway's been wearing a pair that's really cool from this collab. But ours is the 19. 1967C. That's what they're called. Okay. Write it down. And they're for a smaller face. They really wrap around and don't overwhelm, which I think I have a hard time finding big sunglasses that don't feel too big.

10:15Kat Collings:They go with everything. and I feel totally complete after buying these in my sunglasses category. Yes. I've like never felt this passionate about eyewear before. Like every single thing that I put on, like I think about this. I'm like, this outfit is lame without my sunglasses. Yeah. Like they've elevated my personal style just by this pair. But you're right. They are like, I think big sunglasses, even if they don't flatter your face, it's kind of like this moment, right? They're just like bug eye. It's like, it's cool. you're leaning in. The Celine ones. Yes. I go back and forth. I'm like, can I pull it off?

10:50Kat Collings:Like, does it feel almost costumey? You know, the ones I'm talking about. Yes. Yes. It does look costumey, but if you own it, it's like fun. There's definitely like an in-between too, I think. Like you can either really lean in and do the like Celine huge ones, or you can do something like the ones we bought, those Kate Oliver peoples, where it's like still feels every day, but it's like cool and feels different than like a refresh from the micro teeny. need. As like a big faced girl, big face is crazy. Wider face or whatever. Honestly, finding like micro sunglasses was tough. That like felt like they like balanced well.

11:25So I mean, wide faced girlies, it's our time to shine.

11:29Kat Collings:Jewelry. Okay. Last year we saw the corded pendant necklaces take over. This was honestly a trend that like, I was like, we're all doing the same thing a little too much here. Like it was just so powerful, so potent that I'm curious where we're moving. I do think the corded necklaces of it all will still kind of be here. But I like the versions that have maybe like a tassel I think is still cute to do. And sometimes I see them with a tassel and like a little shell. Personally, for me, I'm really excited about like beaded kind of like necklaces made of like semi-precious stones. I just feel like there's a lot of really cool styles coming out and like honestly various price ranges.

12:16Like I have a Madewell beaded necklace that is so cute. And they honestly have a lot of really cool options.

12:23Kat Collings:This all tracks. I saw a 2026 Pinterest report come out that saying maximalist accessories interest is up over 100 % compared to last year. So I think that people are wanting a little texture and personality and color with their accessory choices. One I'm really into that I've been like, sometimes I feel like I have this thought in my head and it's like marinating and marinating. And then I should say it right when I'm thinking of it because then I could be ahead of the curve. Arm bangles. Guys, they are coming. Have you seen it? They're cute. Yeah. Do you have one? No, I've only done a couple cursory searches on Etsy and I haven't gotten so far, which is to my own fault.

13:10Kat Collings:What kind of arm bangle? Like what's the vibe? Is it like metallic? It's like metal. It's a metal. Oh, like, you know, it doesn't move. It's sort of like Cleopatra. It's Cleopatra-y, I guess. Okay, yes. I know what you mean. I saw one recently. It was like a fine one that then like had this, I'm sure it was a lab made diamond like pear shaped dripping down off of it. And I was like, wow. I'm not getting like purchasing a fine arm bangle, same way I didn't do like a fine toe ring per se, but wow, it looked good. You're like, it looked. Maybe a moissanite. Like, give me that one. I was going to say, too, for the cord necklace epidemic, like maybe a way to still make use of them is to kind of like layer them more and add your personality like on top of it.

13:55I feel like I've been seeing a lot of more like like the cord necklace moment was so like white tea cord necklace, you know, like it was like your one thing. So I think now it's like you can still wear them. They're still cool. And like they you bought one that you love. So that's great. But like layer on like a longer beaded one with your like smaller one, you know, like make it more fun and add some personality. and like give it new life.

14:15Kat Collings:As always, I think with long necklace trends, you can have an open back moment and flip it around, you know, have someone take that shot from the back. It's just an ideal. Yeah. I kind of love a funky accessory. And so I feel like I loved when like brooches came back like last year, honestly, the last couple of years. But like, I feel like the 2026 version of kind of like a fun, funky prize ribbon type of things. I've seen like Claro wear one to open her tour last year. I think hers was Sandy Liang. And then also just like rosette, ribbony kind of vibes like that. You can just pin it on a like cute little tee.

15:00Yeah, yeah. You know, put them on your shorts. Honestly, you can attach them to your purses. I've seen some fun like feathered brooches. Cute. Like popping up a little bit. And they're like definitely more maximalist. If you like are more minimalistic and you just want like a little pop of something, it's nice to do that too. That's the trend, I think, for like somebody who's very stylish. Yeah, I feel like that's more like niche. That's like advanced level.

15:25Kat Collings:Yeah, that's what you're doing. If you're trying to, you know, tap into more advanced stuff, like niche fashion girly stuff, you know? That's the tip. I love it. Also kind of Sex and the City, Carrie. Yeah. I think she probably had a bunch of moments. It's, okay, what's going on in the tops world? Tops are hard. I literally don't know what a cute top is. We don't know. I never know. If you don't know, nobody knows. It is so difficult. But what I will say, actually, it's funny you bring up broaches because what you're saying is the evolution. But I feel maybe this is too niche and also advanced level.

15:59But last summer when Tory Burch came out with that tank top with the flower brooch, it was so cool. People were paying 300, whatever, hundreds of dollars for this white tank. I almost fell victim to it. It's so cute. There's nothing. It's like literally so cute, but I feel like everyone had it. And instead of like taking inspiration from it, people were just like buying the tank top with that same flower. You know what I mean? Like it was like, that was it. There's still like Tori's still selling it. It's still really cute. But if anything, like I was going to say, it's challenged me now this summer to be like, I think I just saw it so much in my algorithm.

16:31Like what is a new way that I can update my like white tank or my white tea? and you answered my question. Yeah, I feel like honestly, as far as summer tops go, I feel like sticking with the simple classic staples is like, you can't really go wrong. There's always a way to like shake things up and maybe get an oversized version. But I do think like adorning like all your favorite basics and staples with a cool, I don't know, feathered brooch could be the way to step it up. I also have a question.

17:01Kat Collings:We mentioned button downs. Like, are we not tucking in these button downs? Are we just supposed to like let them loose? Because I think that's the way. But it feels wrong to somebody who was raised on like a half tuck, a French tuck, an all-the-way tuck. I don't want to like yuck anyone's yum. So tuck if you must. I don't really tuck. You know, I kind of lean away from doing that. I don't know. It makes everything feel so like formal. There's three options. There's like you're untucking. Yeah. And you're owning it. Right. Totally loose. Even if it's like layered over a T, right? You're just like open and loose.

17:34then you can take like a safety pin on the inside and you can like scrunch it so that it's like if you want it to be untucked but you want more shape right you like pin it in the back on the back okay but then I've been trying to like if I do want to tuck it I like wear a t-shirt under or a tank top and then I leave it open but I tuck it so it's like you're do you know what I'm saying it's like we do it's like when I try to be that girl who just like has this untucked shirt and I have like a loose jean on it's like I'll literally like recreate an outfit that I see and then I look in the mirror and I'm like this is wrong like it's hard well every shirt's different I think that's the other thing like you know different lengths and like if it does come in a little I don't know it's like all it's all complicated berries shout out to berries they are this really cool primarily vintage but also like a lot of cool third-party independent brands out of NYC and like very much tailors to like curves and mid and plus size people.

18:33And Emma Zach through Barry does a really great job of sourcing. Honestly, some of the coolest button downs like they're like up cycles and like really unique designs. Some have cool cutouts in some places and like there's some patchworky things going on. It's just like there's definitely like fun ways to do the button down. this one like doesn't have to require shopping which I love is like I'm loving layering tees of different colors so like the other day I wore like a red t-shirt under my white t-shirt and then I like rolled the sleeve so then the red was coming out and then the red was under here and it's like so simple but it made me feel so cool and like I was wearing a top versus like my white tee which I think is my struggle like I said with tops and just like I'm wearing a button down I'm wearing a white t-shirt and it's hard to feel elevated and cool I feel like that's a big one honestly like i've been seeing like that actually is a really great one take note everybody um layering the tops i feel like that's like a great way to like mix things up um layering your tanks putting a tank over a tee yeah and you could get like fun colors too like you don't have to do white it's like if you wanted to buy a couple new tees like get a purple and a red or like a teal you know like do something like that and mix it up hey who what wear listeners people have been

19:49Kat Collings:talking about selling on eBay a lot lately, and honestly, I get it. Because we all have those things. The jacket from a very specific phase, the lamp that only worked in your last apartment, the pan you bought for the version of yourself that was definitely going to cook more. And from what I hear, selling on eBay is actually really simple. It's basically just a few photos, and suddenly the stuff that's just been sitting there has a chance to find millions of buyers who are genuinely excited to have it. Find what you love, sell what you don't on eBay. Let's move to the category of bottoms, which apologies if you're listening to our co-founder, Hilary Kerr.

20:33Kat Collings:She's not cared for that word, which I respect. But I kind of want to, you know, we talked a little bit about pants in the beginning. Do we have anything else to add about skirts? Also, the lace skirt was, lace trimmed skirt was big. And I think we continue You need to see lace trimmed things in general resonate. We have to talk about the taffeta pants. Sure we do. They're having a huge moment. Brands that I think our team is really loving. Donnie, which you have a pair of cat that you said you love. Yes, I'll speak to them. I have a chartreuse pair of the taffeta Donnie pants. And wow, the compliments just rain down on you when you wear those.

21:07Kat Collings:It's something to behold. If you need a little ego boost, get a pair of those. I also think the fabric, while it can be stained easily or sweated easily, any taffeta, it actually holds up well to like washes and things almost like a little more than like a silk to me. Like it doesn't get snagged, which I appreciate. Yeah, they're so cute. Chan Lu has some. Reformation has come out with some. And I think it's just a fun, slightly more elevated, but still casual take on like the, you know, the flowy or more comfortable like everyday summer pant that we've been talking about. and especially opting for a fun color like chartreuse or red or, you know, something like that I think is an easy way to just elevate like a tank, you know, like throw it on with a flip flop or a little kitten heel and you still feel very pulled together.